Human umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation for the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.05.002

Abstract

Abstract:

Stem cell transplantation can promote functional restoration following acute spinal cord injury (injury time < 3 months), but the safety and long-term efficacy of this treatment need further exploration. In this study, 25 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (injury time > 6 months) were treated with human umbilical cord blood stem cells via intravenous and intrathecal injection. The follow-up period was 12 months after transplantation. Results found that autonomic nerve functions were restored and the latent period of somatosensory evoked potentials was reduced. There were no severe adverse reactions in patients following stem cell transplantation. These experimental findings suggest that the transplantation of human umbilical cord blood stem cells is a safe and effective treatment for patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Key words: neural regeneration, spinal cord injury, human umbilical cord blood stem cells, transplantation, paraplegia, American Spinal Cord Injury Association score, neurological function, secretion, somatosensory evoked potentials, spasm, safety, photographs-containing paper, neurogeneration

Liqing Yao, Chuan He, Ying Zhao, Jirong Wang, Mei Tang, Jun Li, Ying Wu, Lijuan Ao, Xiang Hu. Human umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation for the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury[J]. Neural Regeneration Research, 2013, 8(5): 397-403.

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